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Rheostatics Dive Deep with Great Lakes Suite
21 Nov, 2025
Summary
- The Great Lakes Suite is Rheostatics' first album since 2019.
- Features guest artists like Laurie Anderson and Gord Downie.
- The album was inspired by the natural beauty of the Great Lakes.
The Canadian band Rheostatics has unveiled "The Great Lakes Suite," an 18-song album inspired by the natural wonder of the Great Lakes. This marks their first new music since 2019 and features core members like Dave Bidini and Kevin Hearn, alongside notable guests such as Rush's Alex Lifeson, Laurie Anderson, and the posthumous contribution of Gord Downie.
The creative process behind "The Great Lakes Suite" was highly improvisational, with lengthy jam sessions being shaped into concise tracks. The album aims to highlight the Great Lakes as a unifying natural element for both Canada and the United States, promoting connection in a divided world. Alex Lifeson's participation significantly boosted the project's profile.
This ambitious project included spoken word pieces and a contribution from Gord Downie recorded at an environmental fundraiser. Rheostatics celebrated the album's release with live performances in Toronto, featuring custom visuals. The band hopes to bring "The Great Lakes Suite" to other venues, embracing their improvisational approach for live shows.
